Flexible hand-rail for escalators.



H. 2. COBB.

FLEXIBLE HAND RAIL FOR ESCALATORS APPLICATION FILED FEB, 8, 5915- Tm WUM mu m fi/S ATTORNEY HENRY. Z. CUB-B, OF WINCHESTER, TKASSACHUSETTS,AELSIGNOR TO REVERE RUBBER- GOMPANY, A COBPGR-ATI N 01? RHODE Its-LANE.

FLEXIBLE HAND-BAIL FOR ESGiiliLATORS.

Specification of I E-otters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1316.

'lpplication filed February 8', 12316.. Serial EJ077077.

which passengers maycling to steady thenn selves when lacking confidenceor certainty 1n their footing.

The function and operation of my improved hand rail is similar to thosewell known in the art, the present improvement therein being in itsconstruction whereby greater durability is attained andthe dangerarising from distortion, cracking and breakingv is eliminated.

The type of escalator rail to which this form of my inventionparticularly applies is that in which, the flexible portion, to begrasped by the hands of the passengers is carried upon and propelled bya sprocket chain which passes over suitable sprocket wheels to whichpower is applied.

Hcretofore in the manufacture of these flexible hand rails they havebeen molded in the form of solid rubber strips having an in ner recessedor channeled portion provided with internal sockets into which the latcral. projections from the sprocket chain are adapted to fit to lock therail and chain together. This form of rail necessarily makes the centralportion of the rail much thinnerthan the marginal portions, consequentlythe said central portion was subjected to much more stretching andcontraction than the marginal portions which are thicker and containmuch. more rubber. This continual stretching and'contraction oftencauses the rubber to crack or lreak acrossthe outside surface formingfissures or cracks which open and close as the rail passes over a curvedportion of its support. ously endangers the hands, fingers, and per sonsof passengers and may catch thecloth ing, thereby ca using more-seriousbodily injury or even death.

The object of my invention therefore is to overcome these defects and,to improve the construction of such hand rails whereby This obvi greaterdurability and elliciency are ob-. tained.

l? or a detailed description of one enibodi' ment of my inventionreference may be had; to the following specificationandtbtheaccompanying drawingforming; a part; thereof in whicht Figure 1.is a vertical transverse sectionof myim proved hand rail. shown inplaceupon a connnon. form of support therefor; Fig; 2' a plan view thereof,part of, theouter-sur face being shown cut: away to diSGlOSetllGreinforcing member; and F 3 is a horizontal sectional, view of the hand.rail alone taken substantially upon. the line33,.l ig,.1. Referringtothe drawing; the numeral 1 indicates the topol? the partition orside-Wall of an escalator, the numeral. Qacharinel iron mounted thereonin which thesprocketg chain 3 is seated, thereby forminga. track or guidc. The numeral 4 indicates the top of the rail,

forming with the sides 5 a channel (iihaving' internal lateral recessesor sockets 7, in o which the projections 8 from the links 3 are seated,9 is a. strip of braided fabric placed just under the outer surface ofthe hand rail.

lily in'iproved hand rail is molded in the usual manner in a vulcanizingmold, the tab ric 9 being placed in position before the rubbcr isinclosed in the mold and a surface rev-- that point transfers thebending line: to'the thicker portions of the rail so that the tendcircyof the surface of the rail to crack or.

separate is eliminated. l urtherinore, the fabric reinforces the railtransversely, so that the rubber has less tendency to stretchtransversely and become separated from the projections on the sprocketchain. The diagonal direction of the braided strands causes all of thestrands to strengthen the rubber without interfering with itsflexibility.

Thus all the functions and actions of the hand. rail are improved andall danger to life and limb of passengers is eliminated by my improvedconstruction.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

LA hand rail or similar article, comprising a channeled memberofflexible niaterial, means for attaching the same to a driving member insaid channel, and a reticulated reinforcing member located adjacent theouter surface of said rail, said reinforcing member being elastic in alldirections up to a certain limit and preventin'g rupture of saidflexible material at or beyond such limit.

2. A hand rail or similar article, comprising a channeled member ofrubber, means for attaching the same to a driving member in saidchannel, and a reinforcing member of fabric having diagonally inter-February, 1916.

HENRY Z. COBB.

day of

